Doll having time indicating means and record player coordinated therewith

ABSTRACT

A doll with a simulated wristwatch whose hands can be set to different times and with a phonograph which plays one of twelve sayings that state the time shown by the hands of the watch. The phonograph includes a record with twelve grooves, the grooves having lead-in portions spaced about the periphery of the record. When a cord is pulled to wind a spring motor, the record turns in reverse until it hits a stop, the stop therefore determining which groove will be engaged by the needle when the record is played. The stop can be shifted to choose a different record groove, by turning the hands on the watch, so that the saying which is played always corresponds to the time shown by the watch.

United States Patent 1151 3,636,655

Porter et a]. I 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] DOLL HAVING TIME INDICATING 2,705,387 4/1955 Handler et al. ..46/1 18 MEANS AND RECORD PLAYER grg g igg 2:32? g yan..... COORDINATED THEREWITH 3,383,114 5/1968 Ryan ..35/22 A [72] Inventors: Irwin C. Porter, Quinter, Kans; Jack L.

Barcus, Cerritos; David L. Bear, Palos Prima y Exam ner-F. Barry Shay Verdes Estates; James E. Marshall, West- Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick minster, all of Calif.

[57] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

. A doll with a simulated wristwatch whose hands can be set to [22] Flled' 1970 different times and with a phonograph which plays one of [2]] A N 60,442 twelve sayings that state the time shown by the hands of the watch. The phonograph includes a record with twelve grooves, the grooves having lead-in portions spaced about the [52] US. Cl ..46/1 17, 35/39, 46/115, periphery ofthe record w a cord is pulled to wind a Spring 46/175 AR motor, the record turns in reverse until it hits a stop, the stop [51] Ilil. C1 ..A63h 5/00, G091) 19/12 therefore determining which groove will be engaged by the [58] Field of Search ..46/1 17, 1 18, 175; 35/8 A, 39 needle when the record is p|ayed The stop can be shifted to 0 choose a different record groove, by turning the hands on the [56] References cued watch, so that the saying which is played always corresponds UNITED STATES PATENTS to the time shown by the watch.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANZSIBYZ 3636655 M x WM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to toys of the type which have phonographs.

2. Description of the Prior Art Dolls with phonographs that can be activated to play a variety of short sayings have proven to be very entertaining toys. If the selected saying were related to action of the doll in a manner that indicated intelligence, the entertainment value of the doll would be further enhanced. Furthermore, if the sayings related to educational experiences recently encountered by a child, the doll could serve as an instructional device in the case of children who have not learned the material, or as a highly entertaining toy by children who have learned the material and appreciate the fact that a younger child represented by the doll will have to learn the material. Leaming to tell time is an ability learned by children, and if it could be combined in an entertaining way with a doll, a highly entertaining doll could be provided. The design of such doll apparatus must, however, allow for economical production in order to enable wide acceptance.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a doll with a watch and phonograph, which selects a saying to be played that is closely related to the time indicated by the watch.

Another object is to provide a simple toy phonograph mechanism for enabling the selection of tracks on a record.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a talking doll is provided which has a wristwatch with movable watch hands and a phonograph which selects a saying to be played that is closely related to the time shown by the hands of the watch. The phonograph includes a disc record with 12 spiral grooves, the grooves having lead-in portions that are circumferentially spaced around the periphery. A tone arm is provided which has a needle that falls against a peripheral portion of the record that lies under it, so that the initial rotational position of the record determines which saying will be played. An elongated flexible member extends through the dolls hand to the torso, where the phonograph is located, and has one end coupled to the watch hands to rotate with them and an opposite end coupled to a mechanism that selects the rotational position at which the record stops prior to playing of a saying.

The mechanism which selects the initial rotational position of the record, includes a projection on a turntable which supports the record and which projection can be engaged by a stop. While the turntable is driven in a forward direction by a spring motor during playing of the record, it is urged to rotate in a reverse direction during winding of the spring. During such reverse rotation, the stop is moved into a position to engage the turntable projection and prevent rotation of the turntable past a desired initial position. As soon as the record begins to be driven in a forward direction for playing, the stop moves out of the circular path of the projection to prevent interference.

The spring which drives the turntable in a forward direction is wound by pulling a cord. A ramp member which can move the stop into the path of the turntable projection, has a hole through which the cord extends. When the cord is pulled to wind the spring motor, the ramp member is shifted and it moves the stop to engage the turntable projection. The position of the stop can be shifted along the circular path of the turntable projection to select a different record groove, by rotation of the flexible member that is coupled to the watch hands.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a doll constructed in accordance with the invention, showing part of the mechanism thereof;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the doll of FIG. 1, showing the phonograph and watch mechanisms thereof;

FIG. 3 is a partial and exploded view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the mechanism of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective exploded view of the mechanism of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, the doll 10 includes a torso housing portion 12 with a sound reproducer or phonograph mechanism, part of which is shown therein, and a doll arm housing portion 14 which carries a wristwatch 16. The wristwatch has a crystal 18 that can be turned by a child to rotate a pair of watch hands 20, 22 over a watch dial 24 to indicate difierent times of the day. Rotation of the crystal 18 causes turning of an elongated flexible coupling member 26 that extends through the doll arm to a phonograph mechanism 28 in the torso. The phonograph mechanism 28 includes a recorded-message carrier means or record 30 which has 12 grooves in which are recorded 12 sayings related to different times of the day. For example, one saying might be Its 6 oclock, time to eat. The particular saying selected to be played is determined by the setting of the clock hands or indicator. The doll arm 14 is pivotally joined to the torso, and the arm can pivot substantially without hampering rotation of the flexible coupling member 26.

As shown in FIG. 2, the phonograph mechanism 28 includes a turntable 32 for supporting the record 30, and a tone arm 34 with a needle 36 that can engage a groove on the record to pickup sounds from it and transmit them through a speaker cone assembly 38 to the air. The turntable is rotated in a forward direction during playing of the record by a spring 40. The spring is wound prior to playing the record by a child pulling on a ring 42 at the end of a draw cord 44. The inner portion of the cord is wound about a cord-receiving drum 46, so that as the cord is pulled, the drum rotates in a reverse direction and winds up the spring 40. As the drum 46 turns in the reverse direction, it also urges the turntable 32 to rotate in reverse, as will be described below.

FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the 12 tracks or grooves on the record 30. Each of the 12 grooves extends in a spiral, and each has a starting or lead-in portion 47 at the periphery of the disc, the 12 lead-in portions being spaced circumferentially about the peripheral portion of the disc record. The tone arm 34 is pivotally mounted at 48, so that its needle 36 can move along an arc. As also shown in FIG. 4, the pull cord 44 extends through an aperture in the tone arm so that as the cord is being pulled to wind the spring, the needle 36 is lifted away from the record 30 and moved to the periphery of the record. As soon as the cord is released so that its tension does not keep the needle off the record, a speaker cone armature pushes on the tone arm to move the needle against the record and cause the needle to enter a record groove. Release of cord tension also allows the spring motor to turn the record in a forward direction so that the needle plays the saying defined by the groove into which it has fallen.

During playing of the record 30, it rotates in the direction of arrow 50. Therefore, the groove with a lead-in portion immediately up-path from the position of the needle 36 will engage the needle and be played. When the watch hands are set at 12 oclock, the record will be stopped so that the lead-in groove portion of that groove which defines the 12 o'clock saying is at the position No. 12 identified in FIG. 3. Thus, a particular groove such as the groove defining the 12 o'clock saying, is chosen by positioning the record 30 so that the groove is immediately up-path from the needle 36 when the needle is allowed to fall against the record at the beginning of a playing period.

The record 30 is maintained at a predetermined rotational position prior to a playing by urging the turntable 32 to rotate in the reverse direction, indicated by arrow 52 during pulling of the cord, but stopping the turntable from rotating in reverse past the desired initial position. To accomplish this, a projection or first stop 54 is fixed to a side of the turntable, and a second stop 56 is provided which is maintained stationary in the path of the first stop 54. Accordingly, when the first stop 54 on the turntable reaches the second stop 56, the turntable is prevented from rotating any further in reverse and the record is maintained in a particular position. Of course, the second stop 56 should be moved out of the way of the circular path of the first stop 54 during forward rotation of the turntable when the record is played. The particular position of the second stop 56 around the axis of rotation of the turntable determines which record groove will be played. The position of the second stop 56 is changed as the watch hands are moved about the watch dial, so that the time indicated by the watch determines the groove to be played.

As shown in FIG. 6, the first stop 54 is mounted on a side of the turntable 32 opposite the record 30, so it moves in a circular path as the turntable rotates. The second stop 56 is mounted on a stop wheel 58 that can rotate about the same axis as the turntable. An index wheel 60 which also can rotate about the axis of the turntable, is disposed between the stop wheel 58 and the turntable, and it has a slot 62 through which the second stop 56 can project. A spring 64 normally urges the stop wheel 58 downwardly so the stop 56 does not project far through the slot 62 and is out of the path of the first stop 54.

However, when the stop wheel 58 is pushed upwardly, the second stop can project into the path of the first stop and prevent rotation of the turntable. A bevel plate or ramp member 66 is used to push the stop wheel 58 upwardly to stop the turntable during pulling of the pull cord, to thereby prevent the turntable and record thereon from moving past a desired initial position.

The bevel plate 66 is mounted for sliding perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the turntable. The bevel plate carries four bevel members 68 which can push against a flange 70 on the stop wheel 58 to move it upwardly. Normally, the bevel plate has the position shown in FIG. wherein the bevel members 68 allow the stop wheel to remain in its down position. However, when the cord 44 is pulled, the bevel plate moves in the direction of arrow 72 and pushes up the stop plate. The pull cord 44 is coupled to the bevel plate by reason of its extension through an eyelet 74 thereon in a manner that requires the cord to deviate from a straight line. When a child pulls the cord, friction between the cord and the walls of the eyelet 74 in the bevel plate causes the bevel plate to move in the direction of arrow 72. This causes the stop wheel 58 to move up and move the second stop 56 thereon into the path of the first stop 54 on the turntable. During pulling of the cord, the turntable is also urged to rotate in the reverse direction indicated by arrow 52, so that the turntable rotates until the first and second stops are engaged.

The cord-receiving wheel 46 has an arbor 76 that is fixed to an inner turn of the spring 40 to positively wind it when the cord is pulled. However, the arbor 76 is coupled through a clutch member 78 to a portion 80 of the turntable to enable the turntable to remain stationary while the wheel 46 and its arbor turn in the reverse direction, although appreciable torque is applied tending to rotate the turntable in reverse. The clutch member 78 has a projection 82 that is received in a slot in the arbor 76 so that it is positively turned by the arbor. However, the periphery of the clutch member 78 is divided into four arms, two of which extend upwardly and two of which extend downwardly to engage the portion 80 on the turntable. These arms apply frictional forces tending to turn the turntable forward or in reverse with substantial torque, but allow slippage of the turntable when it is held by the second stop 56.

Thus, when a child pulls on the cord 44 to wind the spring, he also turns the turntable in reverse and causes the bevel plate 66 to shift in position. The bevel plate causes the second stop 56 to project into the path of a first stop 54 on the turntable and prevent the turntable from rotating past a predetermined position.

As described earlier, the position at which the turntable stops during reverse rotation, and therefore the selection of the next track to be played, is determined by the position of the second stop 56. The position of the second stop can be shifted by turning the index wheel 60. The fact that the second stop 56 always projects at least partially through the index wheel, assures that the stop wheel will shift position with the index wheel. The index wheel has gear teeth 84 at its periphery which are engaged by a worm gear 86. The worm gear 86 is at one end of the flexible coupling member 26 which extends through the arm of the doll to the watch.

The watch mechanism on the dolls wrist is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The watch crystal 16, which serves as means for rotating the watch hands, is fixed ,to a shaft 88 which carries a pinion 90. The pinion 90 drives a gear 92 which has a pinion 94 that drives an hour gear 96. The minute hand 20 is fixed to the crystal 16 while the hour hand 22 is fixed to the hour gear 96. The gear train is arranged so that a complete rotation of the crystal 16 results in a one-twelfth rotation of the hour hand 22 to move to the next hour. A bevel gear 98 is also fixed to the shaft 88 that is driven by the crystal, and it drives another bevel gear 100 that is fixed to one end of the flexible coupling member 26 that drives the worm gear 86. Thus, when a child rotates the crystal 16 he rotates the minute and hour hands in appropriate ratios, and he also rotates the flexible coupling member 26 that drives the worm gear 86 within the torso. As earlier described, the worm gear 86 changes the rotational position of the second stop 56 which determines the record track to be played next. The gear ratios are such that the index wheel 84 which moves the second stop, rotates by 30 (one-twelfth turn) when the hour hand on the watch rotates by 30 to point to a new hour. Thus, a different saying is selected every time the watch hands advance by one hour. The mechanism can be set up so that a change to a new record track is selected approximately when the minute hand has rotated past a position indicating 30 minutes after the hour.

As shown in FIG. 2, the phonograph mechanism is designed compactly for fitting within the doll torso 12. It includes various parts such as a governor 102 for regulating speed, a tone arm stop 104 which abuts the tone arm to define the outer position to which it moves, and various other parts which are generally included in phonographs of this type. It also may be noted that the turntable 32 is fixed to a central spindle 106 that is rotatably mounted on the doll housing, while the arbor 76 of the cord-receiving drum is rotatably mounted about the spindle 106. Also, the index wheel 60 and stop wheel 58 are pivotally mounted about a bearing 108 that rotatably supports the spindle 106, so that all of these parts rotate about the same axis.

Thus, the invention provides a talking doll with a wristwatch, wherein a child can change the time indicated by the wristwatch, and thereby automatically select a saying to be played that corresponds to the time indicated by the watch. The phonograph which plays the sayings includes a record with several grooves having spaced lead-in portions. The phonograph also includes apparatus for urging the record to rotate in a reverse direction during winding of a spring motor, and for preventing the record from moving past a position wherein the desired lead-in groove will be engaged by a tone arm when the record is next played. The position at which the record is stopped during reverse movement is determined by the position of at least one watch hand relative to a watch dial.

Herein the term sound reproducer is employed to refer to the phonograph mechanism, including its turntable, record, tone arm, speaker and associated mechanisms and the motor including drawstring 44 for actuating the same. The term selector means includes those mechanisms extending from the simulated watch to the phonograph and including the stop element or projection 54 on the turntable for selecting that recording to be played. The selector means includes as a part thereof mechanisms referred to as coupling means and which includes, for example, the flexible drive 26 and the mechanisms driven thereby.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

What is claimed is: 1. In a figure toy, the combination comprising: a simulated timepiece attached at the exterior of said figure toy in a manner to simulate a timepiece that is being carried by a person, said timepiece having a dial bearing indicia corresponding to at least some of the hours indicated by a functional timepiece, said timepiece including movable means for indicating said hours; a recorded-message player means for playing a plurality of messages attached to said figure toy; selector means connected to said simulated timepiece and said recorded-message player means for selecting a particular one of said plurality of messages to be played when said movable means are moved to a corresponding indicium selected on said dial; and means for actuating said player means. 2. A figure toy comprising: a body including at least one appendage; a simulated watch assembly mounted on said appendage in a manner to simulate a watch that is being carried by a person, said watch including a simulated time indicator and means for moving said indicator to indicate different times; a sound reproducer mounted in said body, said sound reproducer including recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of sound tracks defining sayings related to said different times, selector means including means for coupling said indicatormoving means to said sound reproducer and for selecting a sound track which relates to the time indicated by said indicator; and means for actuating said sound reproducer. 3. The figure toy described in claim 2 wherein: said recorded-message carrier means comprises a disc, and said tracks have lead-in portions spaced about said disc; said sound reproducer also includes a turntable rotatably mounted in said body for holding said disc, motor means for rotating said turntable in a forward direction, and tone arm means for entering one of said lead-in portions and following along its track to play the saying therein when said motor means rotates said turntable in said forward direction; and said means for coupling includes means for positioning said turntable at selected rotational positions prior to said motor means rotating said turntable in said forward direction, in accordance with the position of said indica- 01. 4. The figure toy described in claim 2 wherein: said recorded-message carrier means comprises a disc, and said tracks have starting portions spaced about the peripheral portion of said disc; said sound reproducer also includes a turntable rotatably mounted on said body for holding said disc,

tone arm means for engaging one of said tracks,

a spring motor for turning said disc in a forward direction,

a cord for winding said spring motor, said cord coupled to said tone arm means to hold it away from said record when said cord is pulled,

clutch means for urging said turntable to rotate in a reverse direction as said string is pulled, while allowing slippage, and said coupling means including a first stop mounted on said turntable to move in a circular path therewith; a second stop mounted for movement about substantially the same axis as the axis of rotation of said turntable and into and out of the path of said first stop,

said selector means including means responsive to said indicator moving means for shifting the position of said second stop about its axis of movement, and

means responsive to the pulling of said string for moving said second stop into and out of the path of said first stop.

5. The figure toy described in claim 2 wherein:

said sound reproducer includes a tone arm movable from a position away from said recorded-message carrier means to a predetermined position thereon to engage a said track which has a portion at said predetermined position; and

said means for coupling includes means for stopping said recorded-message carrier means to bring a selected track to said predetermined position.

6. The figure toy described in claim 5 wherein:

said appendage is a doll arm which is pivotaily coupled to a doll torso; and

said selector means includes an elongated flexible member extending through the inside of said arm of said doll into said torso, said flexible member having a first end coupled to said indicator for rotation as said indicator moves relative to said watch and a second end coupled to means for positioning said recorded-message carrier means.

7. A talking doll comprising:

a doll housing;

a watch mounted on said housing including a dial and at least one hand rotatably mounted adjacent to said dial to indicate different times;

a turntable rotatably mounted on said housing for rotating in forward and reverse directions and having a record with a plurality of tracks defining different sayings related to different time indications;

a spring coupled to said turntable to drive it in said forward direction;

a cord-receiving wheel;

means for coupling said cord-receiving wheel to said spring and turntable to urge them to rotate while allowing at least said turntable to remain stationary when held against rotating in said reverse direction;

a cord coupled to said cord-receiving wheel to rotate it as said cord is pulled;

a first stop fixed to said turntable;

an index wheel with a hole in it rotatably mounted adjacent to said turntable;

a stop wheel mounted on a side of said index wheel opposite said turntable for rotation about the same axis as said index wheel and for axial translation with respect to it, said stop wheel having a second stop which can project through said hole in said index wheel;

a spring for urging said stop wheel away from said index wheel;

a ramp member having an aperture through which said string extends, for movement by said string when it is pulled to move said stop wheel towards said index wheel; and

means for synchronously moving said watch hand relative to said dial and rotating said index wheel.

8. The talking doll described in claim 7 wherein:

said housing includes a doll torso and doll arm;

said turntable is mounted in said torso;

said watch is mounted on the wrist of said doll arm; and

said means for moving said watch hand and rotating said index wheel extends through said doll arm into said torso. 

1. In a figure toy, the combination comprising: a simulated timepiece attached at the exterior of said figure toy in a manner to simulate a timepiece that is being carried by a person, said timepiece having a dial bearing indicia corresponding to at least some of the hours indicated by a functional timepiece, said timepiece including movable means for indicating said hours; a recorded-message player means for playing a plurality of messages attached to said figure toy; selector means connected to said simulated timepiece and said recorded-message player means for selecting a particular one of said plurality of messages to be played when said movable means are moved to a corresponding indicium selected on said dial; and means for actuating said player means.
 2. A figure toy comprising: a body including at least one appendage; a simulated watch assembly mounted on said appendage in a manner to simulate a watch that is being carried by a person, said watch including a simulated time indicator and Means for moving said indicator to indicate different times; a sound reproducer mounted in said body, said sound reproducer including recorded-message carrier means having a plurality of sound tracks defining sayings related to said different times, selector means including means for coupling said indicator-moving means to said sound reproducer and for selecting a sound track which relates to the time indicated by said indicator; and means for actuating said sound reproducer.
 3. The figure toy described in claim 2 wherein: said recorded-message carrier means comprises a disc, and said tracks have lead-in portions spaced about said disc; said sound reproducer also includes a turntable rotatably mounted in said body for holding said disc, motor means for rotating said turntable in a forward direction, and tone arm means for entering one of said lead-in portions and following along its track to play the saying therein when said motor means rotates said turntable in said forward direction; and said means for coupling includes means for positioning said turntable at selected rotational positions prior to said motor means rotating said turntable in said forward direction, in accordance with the position of said indicator.
 4. The figure toy described in claim 2 wherein: said recorded-message carrier means comprises a disc, and said tracks have starting portions spaced about the peripheral portion of said disc; said sound reproducer also includes a turntable rotatably mounted on said body for holding said disc, tone arm means for engaging one of said tracks, a spring motor for turning said disc in a forward direction, a cord for winding said spring motor, said cord coupled to said tone arm means to hold it away from said record when said cord is pulled, clutch means for urging said turntable to rotate in a reverse direction as said string is pulled, while allowing slippage, and said coupling means including a first stop mounted on said turntable to move in a circular path therewith; a second stop mounted for movement about substantially the same axis as the axis of rotation of said turntable and into and out of the path of said first stop, said selector means including means responsive to said indicator moving means for shifting the position of said second stop about its axis of movement, and means responsive to the pulling of said string for moving said second stop into and out of the path of said first stop.
 5. The figure toy described in claim 2 wherein: said sound reproducer includes a tone arm movable from a position away from said recorded-message carrier means to a predetermined position thereon to engage a said track which has a portion at said predetermined position; and said means for coupling includes means for stopping said recorded-message carrier means to bring a selected track to said predetermined position.
 6. The figure toy described in claim 5 wherein: said appendage is a doll arm which is pivotally coupled to a doll torso; and said selector means includes an elongated flexible member extending through the inside of said arm of said doll into said torso, said flexible member having a first end coupled to said indicator for rotation as said indicator moves relative to said watch and a second end coupled to means for positioning said recorded-message carrier means.
 7. A talking doll comprising: a doll housing; a watch mounted on said housing including a dial and at least one hand rotatably mounted adjacent to said dial to indicate different times; a turntable rotatably mounted on said housing for rotating in forward and reverse directions and having a record with a plurality of tracks defining different sayings related to different time indications; a spring coupled to said turntable to drive it in said forward direction; a cord-receiving wheel; means for coupling said cord-receiving wheel to said sPring and turntable to urge them to rotate while allowing at least said turntable to remain stationary when held against rotating in said reverse direction; a cord coupled to said cord-receiving wheel to rotate it as said cord is pulled; a first stop fixed to said turntable; an index wheel with a hole in it rotatably mounted adjacent to said turntable; a stop wheel mounted on a side of said index wheel opposite said turntable for rotation about the same axis as said index wheel and for axial translation with respect to it, said stop wheel having a second stop which can project through said hole in said index wheel; a spring for urging said stop wheel away from said index wheel; a ramp member having an aperture through which said string extends, for movement by said string when it is pulled to move said stop wheel towards said index wheel; and means for synchronously moving said watch hand relative to said dial and rotating said index wheel.
 8. The talking doll described in claim 7 wherein: said housing includes a doll torso and doll arm; said turntable is mounted in said torso; said watch is mounted on the wrist of said doll arm; and said means for moving said watch hand and rotating said index wheel extends through said doll arm into said torso. 